Happiness def:
1. State of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
2. Emotions experienced when in a state of well-being
3. Good luck; good fortune; prosperity
4. An agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind; the possession of those circumstances or that state of being which is attended enjoyment; the state of being happy; contentment; joyful satisfaction; felicity; blessedness
5. Fortuitous elegance; unstudied grace; -- used especially of language
So.... Are you Happy? The reason for my topic tonight is.... I asked my Wife that today. We're both in a slump, not really enjoying what we're doing for..... whatever reasons we have. For the most part, it's mearly superficial. A lot of little things are getting to us, but they do become big things if you don't deal with them I've heard. NORMALLY it's either or with us.... we can pull each other out of our slump and continue on. This time, it's hard to pull your significant other out of a slump if you yourself are in one.
It's easy enough to just buy something, or go somewhere to take your mind of the regular doldrums that COULD be your life. But, if you think about it (this is the state of mind my Wife and I are on at the moment), it's kind of like.... trying to stay up at night and you drink a Coke or something. But, after 30 min or so, the sugar high leaves and your more exhausted then when you were before you even thought about drinking Coke that would help keep you awake.
Don't get me wrong... a holiday is a great way to get away and recharge. It's what holidays are for. R&R. (But, would you want to be enjoying what your doing already and not using a holiday as a crutch??) I haven't had my FIRST holiday and yet Erin is ready for her 2nd...lol
Pressing the giant "RESET" button has been bantered around the past few months. Knowing that at this point in our lives, it's mearly a fantasy, but the thought is there. The problem with us is.... is "pressing the button" really going to help us? Or in a few months.... or years.... are we just going to end up in the same place again. My Dad has always said "A change is as good as a rest..." mind you, being in the Army, his meaning is probably more crude really...lol Is it really the answer though?
It's not like we're bored, nore are we bored with each other. Our social life is quite nice, we have some good friends to hang out with, and have fun with and whatever. We're busy though... with the flower shop and our friends. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with state of mind to. We're in a slump because we think we're in a slump. Come to think of it, I don't know if it's so much happiness, but enjoyment. We're just not enjoying what we're doing.... maybe we're just mixing up what the difference is between Enjoyment and Happiness. Whatever "this" is, we need to get out of it.
Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it. ~Jacques Prévert
~Chris
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Retrospections and domestications...
Wow, my last post was in 2009... August in fact. Not a worry... been really busy lately. Just the Readers Digest version... since 2009... wow... um.... ok, lets start with...... My wife and I bought a flowershop.... both quit our jobs and started something new. I'm in my 2nd year as an Appliance Service and Repair technician and the flowershop is doing great. We got married in Aug 10th, 2010 and it was the best day ever. Not too hot, not too cold, and the evening, barely any bugs. Perfect, plus I married my best friend.... what's better than that.
So, the past 10 or so months that Erin and I have been married.... no... even before we got married I've gone through a transition. I'll start this with me standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes and it dawns on me that.... before I would have just left the dishes. One thing that I LOVE my wife for is, she doesn't let me get away with anything. ANYTHING. She has certian expectations that she has and I'm trying to do my best. And I'll freely admit that sometimes my best isn't good enough. Plus the small little things that I do, barely compare with what my wife does for me, around the house. The "un-cool" thing that I sometimes do, she askes me to do something and I'll give the big *SIGH* or roll my eyes... etc.
My goal starting from the past few months is to do things without being asked to do them... Hence doing the mountian of dishes that had accumulated over the past few days. Theres still more to do, but this journal entry had just come to me so I sat down with a beer to write this. It feels good to just, know what to do, to just do it because it had to get done.
Now, this comes from a by-product of me growing up where most of whatever had to get done, was done for me. And through bad habbit, I would just leave things until someone did them for me. Not the greatest, eh?...lol I'm getting better, I'm growing, and my wife will continually be frustrated because I'm just not "there" yet...lol But I'm working on it, and I'm enjoying the growing, personally, and as a couple.
So, the past 10 or so months that Erin and I have been married.... no... even before we got married I've gone through a transition. I'll start this with me standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes and it dawns on me that.... before I would have just left the dishes. One thing that I LOVE my wife for is, she doesn't let me get away with anything. ANYTHING. She has certian expectations that she has and I'm trying to do my best. And I'll freely admit that sometimes my best isn't good enough. Plus the small little things that I do, barely compare with what my wife does for me, around the house. The "un-cool" thing that I sometimes do, she askes me to do something and I'll give the big *SIGH* or roll my eyes... etc.
My goal starting from the past few months is to do things without being asked to do them... Hence doing the mountian of dishes that had accumulated over the past few days. Theres still more to do, but this journal entry had just come to me so I sat down with a beer to write this. It feels good to just, know what to do, to just do it because it had to get done.
Now, this comes from a by-product of me growing up where most of whatever had to get done, was done for me. And through bad habbit, I would just leave things until someone did them for me. Not the greatest, eh?...lol I'm getting better, I'm growing, and my wife will continually be frustrated because I'm just not "there" yet...lol But I'm working on it, and I'm enjoying the growing, personally, and as a couple.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Facebook and Me
Lately, I've been thinking real hard about this whole Facebook thing. About how I interact with it and how it "supposed" to interact with me. I think I got caught up on the whole "I need friends and I need them now!!!" type of thinking. Looking at some of my "friends" in my friends list, I've noticed that some have over 200 some even in the 300's... why? Do you really know ALL those people and do they even really know you? I know I'm on some of those peoples friends list just as a number, 300 people... how do you even keep track? I have 70+ and I couldn't even tell you whom most of those people are/were or how often I've written on their walls or checked out their pictures if any were posted in a while.
I've also thought about how I interact with the people closest to me and how easy it was to just send a message here or there and find that I don't really get much in return except the odd wall-to-wall post or a message here or there. I do agree though, that it's an easy way to keep in touch and if pictures are there, easy to post and easy to view. Although I do find that, the people on my friends list that I contact most of the time are someone I would call to see how their doing or someone who messages me quite a bit.
I will be doing a half decent purge here right quick because... I just don't know who some of the people are anymore. I don't associate with them, nor do I even... I'm not going to say care but, I don't talk to them, I don't show any interest as to how their doing, even though I'm sure their doing OK but it's been so long with some of these people that I don't know who they are anymore as some of them... it's been almost 5 years since I've seen some of them.
There's another reason I bring this up. My interest in Facebook itself is starting to diminish. I've had my fun with it, done my time and I think, like some of the very few friends, will contemplate cutting my account all together. Although very drastic, I doubt that will happen, there are still some people that I converse with and I like to share some of the photo's that I rarely put up on there. I'm also finding that I rush home to play a few applications and a few games on there but the funny thing is... I don't really care. That's not the reason why I'm on Facebook really, and it's not what I want to do on there anymore. Hence again for a big purge.
So, I share this blog with my Facebook account, so if you get to read this, consider yourself lucky enough to read it as you've made my cut...lol And I'm sure when I've gotten rid of some of my Facebook applications, my computer usage will almost be cut in half.
I guess, even though I like my cell phone and I like the Internet connection... I'm almost just not that interested in being all that connected anymore. My life has changed for the better, and I'm tired of just spending time on this blasted thing now and not doing like... chores in the house. It's stuff I'll get figured out.
I've also thought about how I interact with the people closest to me and how easy it was to just send a message here or there and find that I don't really get much in return except the odd wall-to-wall post or a message here or there. I do agree though, that it's an easy way to keep in touch and if pictures are there, easy to post and easy to view. Although I do find that, the people on my friends list that I contact most of the time are someone I would call to see how their doing or someone who messages me quite a bit.
I will be doing a half decent purge here right quick because... I just don't know who some of the people are anymore. I don't associate with them, nor do I even... I'm not going to say care but, I don't talk to them, I don't show any interest as to how their doing, even though I'm sure their doing OK but it's been so long with some of these people that I don't know who they are anymore as some of them... it's been almost 5 years since I've seen some of them.
There's another reason I bring this up. My interest in Facebook itself is starting to diminish. I've had my fun with it, done my time and I think, like some of the very few friends, will contemplate cutting my account all together. Although very drastic, I doubt that will happen, there are still some people that I converse with and I like to share some of the photo's that I rarely put up on there. I'm also finding that I rush home to play a few applications and a few games on there but the funny thing is... I don't really care. That's not the reason why I'm on Facebook really, and it's not what I want to do on there anymore. Hence again for a big purge.
So, I share this blog with my Facebook account, so if you get to read this, consider yourself lucky enough to read it as you've made my cut...lol And I'm sure when I've gotten rid of some of my Facebook applications, my computer usage will almost be cut in half.
I guess, even though I like my cell phone and I like the Internet connection... I'm almost just not that interested in being all that connected anymore. My life has changed for the better, and I'm tired of just spending time on this blasted thing now and not doing like... chores in the house. It's stuff I'll get figured out.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
True value of someone's word...
So, I've made the next leap... what's that? I'm changing career's again???!!?!?!!! Yes. I'm having a bit of a hard time with this one because I really liked a lot of the people I worked with, and a lot of the people who worked for me and worked hard for me. Being a purchaser is where I learned what your name and word really meant and how you deal with people you deal with for product (no matter how small or how big).
I'll say this, I'm no salesmen (sales-person for those whom are politically correct out there) where I have a conscience and have feelings about how I treated my vendors. I've enjoyed the past 13 months buying stuff, getting the deal, working for the deal, feeling the pressure and the stress that this career has given into me. I've learned that everything is built upon relationships with the people you buy from, from the smallest nut and bolt to the largest component of a drilling rig. I've found that even sometimes the quickest of business lunches is the best way to build that relationship where you are able to buy stuff with out a purchase order BECAUSE you have that relationship with the vendor and your name and word DOES mean something.
Growing up, my dad wasn't around much defending the country of all the evil do-er's that want to do wrong in this world, but when he was around, one of the many things he did teach me was that the only thing you have in this world is your word and your name. A good farmers way of living where all he had was his word, and stuck to it. And that's how I treated my vendors and the company I worked for. Unfortunately this wasn't the case for the company and some of my other vendors where all they wanted was the sale/product. Well, I can't say EVERYONE worked the way I worked, but I will say that most of them did.
I found that, the true measure of a person, when all he has was his word (and a PO...lol) is that my last few days, even the vendors I've only ever talked to 3 times, came in or called or emailed saying "good luck" "all the best" etc. Some I'll be in contact for a while after I leave as I've built more than a buying relationship with, but I'll miss making those contacts, those relationships, going for those lunches to build that trust with a vendor. I've had to lean on a number of my vendors to get product out to me, to hurry a purchase, to get it to my door ASAP (that STILL isn't a date on the calendar).
I'm going to miss it. I'm NOT going to miss the b/s but I will miss the talking, the networking, getting the best deal, sharing what we did on the weekend building that relationship even better. I might get back into it, but then again... I probably won't... who knows. All I know is that I had fun and enjoyed myself.
I'll say this, I'm no salesmen (sales-person for those whom are politically correct out there) where I have a conscience and have feelings about how I treated my vendors. I've enjoyed the past 13 months buying stuff, getting the deal, working for the deal, feeling the pressure and the stress that this career has given into me. I've learned that everything is built upon relationships with the people you buy from, from the smallest nut and bolt to the largest component of a drilling rig. I've found that even sometimes the quickest of business lunches is the best way to build that relationship where you are able to buy stuff with out a purchase order BECAUSE you have that relationship with the vendor and your name and word DOES mean something.
Growing up, my dad wasn't around much defending the country of all the evil do-er's that want to do wrong in this world, but when he was around, one of the many things he did teach me was that the only thing you have in this world is your word and your name. A good farmers way of living where all he had was his word, and stuck to it. And that's how I treated my vendors and the company I worked for. Unfortunately this wasn't the case for the company and some of my other vendors where all they wanted was the sale/product. Well, I can't say EVERYONE worked the way I worked, but I will say that most of them did.
I found that, the true measure of a person, when all he has was his word (and a PO...lol) is that my last few days, even the vendors I've only ever talked to 3 times, came in or called or emailed saying "good luck" "all the best" etc. Some I'll be in contact for a while after I leave as I've built more than a buying relationship with, but I'll miss making those contacts, those relationships, going for those lunches to build that trust with a vendor. I've had to lean on a number of my vendors to get product out to me, to hurry a purchase, to get it to my door ASAP (that STILL isn't a date on the calendar).
I'm going to miss it. I'm NOT going to miss the b/s but I will miss the talking, the networking, getting the best deal, sharing what we did on the weekend building that relationship even better. I might get back into it, but then again... I probably won't... who knows. All I know is that I had fun and enjoyed myself.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Trade Winds Blowing Again???
I have come to realize that it's not just me anymore. I had a freak-out about 3 weeks ago, about what I was doing, why I was doing it and just.... why in general. I also have to say that I love Erin to death. I love the fact that we have very open communication between us, we talk things out, we worry together, we think together and keep our eye out for each other. My little freak out I had a few weeks ago was basically a brake down in my communication with her. Erin made me realize that it's not "me, the single guy" anymore, who can just make snap decisions about stuff like a job... or a career for that matter, that with every decesion I make has an impact with her, and the family. We sat down and talked things out and made sure that it wasn't the job itself, just a few people AT the job that I wasn't enjoying. So, I'm in it, for the family, for Erin.... for me. I may not love my job, and I may not enjoy everything about it at certain times but I have to deal with those days and really... put my big boy pants on and deal with it.
The other reason I love her, she's always thinking about us and about me, putting us before herself a lot of times. I look at her, working a job she's not so happy with at the moment, and talking to her and listening to how frustrated she feels when she comes home, I'm surprised she hasn't had a freak out and has actually left (puts a lot of things into perspective for me and where I sit every day.) She's helped me figure out that sometimes you just have to deal with it, keep driving in every day and do your job and go home. I've now realized that it's best to talk out what I'm feeling, and how I'm feeling as well (I know, guys talking about feelings *SHOCK*, right?). It's part of the open communication that I love about us.
So, back to the title of the Blog (the previous was just a lead up to what I had in mind). Erin brought an idea to mind a few days ago. Now, it's quite an interesting idea that I haven't thought of before and has made me think, go through the pro's and con's in my mind (this will be the "open communication" part between me and Erin) about this budding opportunity. Now, I may not be 100% sold about where I'm working now but I do enjoy a lot about what I do, and if/when I DO jump to something else, I have to be ready to stick with it for longer than 20 months. See, I'm still trying to figure out what to do when I grow up. I've pretty much re-invented myself 3 to 4 times and I'm getting tired of trying to figure it out really. I can't complain about what I've done in the past, it's given me a lot of great skills that I wouldn't have gotten by just watching TV saying "Gee, that would be cool to learn a little bit about..." I've also met a lot of great people in those 3 to 4 events, that have taught me that sometimes you just need to make a jump, and that there is something for everyone. And also, every opportunity always leads to another at some point in time.
I'm open to learn more, I'm open to change (so to speak) and I do enjoy a challenge as well. I do know a couple of guys who were my age a few years back and had, I'm assuming, the same talk with themselves to see where things were going, how things were going and where they were heading. I do have to remember though that, this next change will have to be my last for a long time because, I know myself that I just can't be job hopping for no more than 12 to 20 months and expect things to come out alright. Eventually, it will bite me in the ass.
But, whatever happens within the next 3 months to 3 years, I'll have that family unit at home to talk things out, vent my frustrations and have someone in my corner, someone to hug when I've had a hard day and kick my ass when I need it... And this is one of the MANY reasons why I love Erin.
The other reason I love her, she's always thinking about us and about me, putting us before herself a lot of times. I look at her, working a job she's not so happy with at the moment, and talking to her and listening to how frustrated she feels when she comes home, I'm surprised she hasn't had a freak out and has actually left (puts a lot of things into perspective for me and where I sit every day.) She's helped me figure out that sometimes you just have to deal with it, keep driving in every day and do your job and go home. I've now realized that it's best to talk out what I'm feeling, and how I'm feeling as well (I know, guys talking about feelings *SHOCK*, right?). It's part of the open communication that I love about us.
So, back to the title of the Blog (the previous was just a lead up to what I had in mind). Erin brought an idea to mind a few days ago. Now, it's quite an interesting idea that I haven't thought of before and has made me think, go through the pro's and con's in my mind (this will be the "open communication" part between me and Erin) about this budding opportunity. Now, I may not be 100% sold about where I'm working now but I do enjoy a lot about what I do, and if/when I DO jump to something else, I have to be ready to stick with it for longer than 20 months. See, I'm still trying to figure out what to do when I grow up. I've pretty much re-invented myself 3 to 4 times and I'm getting tired of trying to figure it out really. I can't complain about what I've done in the past, it's given me a lot of great skills that I wouldn't have gotten by just watching TV saying "Gee, that would be cool to learn a little bit about..." I've also met a lot of great people in those 3 to 4 events, that have taught me that sometimes you just need to make a jump, and that there is something for everyone. And also, every opportunity always leads to another at some point in time.
I'm open to learn more, I'm open to change (so to speak) and I do enjoy a challenge as well. I do know a couple of guys who were my age a few years back and had, I'm assuming, the same talk with themselves to see where things were going, how things were going and where they were heading. I do have to remember though that, this next change will have to be my last for a long time because, I know myself that I just can't be job hopping for no more than 12 to 20 months and expect things to come out alright. Eventually, it will bite me in the ass.
But, whatever happens within the next 3 months to 3 years, I'll have that family unit at home to talk things out, vent my frustrations and have someone in my corner, someone to hug when I've had a hard day and kick my ass when I need it... And this is one of the MANY reasons why I love Erin.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
I can't wait!!!
I really can't. Erin and I are looking at buying the house we're renting and I can't wait for the responsibility of owning a home. We're in discussions with the landlord now about price and such and I can't wait.
What can't I wait for? The ability to start to work on something, do build equity in the home, to do handyman type jobs to learn how to do certain things... just the ability to soak in any knowledge that anyone is willing to give me on how to work on the house and maintain it. Erin and I are now talking about where to put money, how to spend it wisely, and how to best get the most of our money with the biggest return.
I will admit, the house was built in 1938 and has a few owners in its time and has had a lot of "handyman specials" done to it. We're quite lucky in the fact that good friends of ours are licensed electrician and plumber so I want to soak up as much as I can.
Why am I talking about this? Well, I did a small little project for Erin's flowers. She bought a lot of flower stuff off of her friend and had to make some shelves for the paint she newly acquired. Well, even though it was just a small little thing, put some screws in the wall for some brackets to put some hangers off of it and put shelving on it, but man.... it was great. The fact that I was working on something, building something and having it be useful felt almost.... empowering. Our friends had come out this morning to take a look at the house to give an honest opinion of what they figured about the house. Things sounded good, had some laughs and some good advice. Sounded good so now our heads are swimming with ideas, what to do, where to do it and what's best to do.
I can't wait.
What can't I wait for? The ability to start to work on something, do build equity in the home, to do handyman type jobs to learn how to do certain things... just the ability to soak in any knowledge that anyone is willing to give me on how to work on the house and maintain it. Erin and I are now talking about where to put money, how to spend it wisely, and how to best get the most of our money with the biggest return.
I will admit, the house was built in 1938 and has a few owners in its time and has had a lot of "handyman specials" done to it. We're quite lucky in the fact that good friends of ours are licensed electrician and plumber so I want to soak up as much as I can.
Why am I talking about this? Well, I did a small little project for Erin's flowers. She bought a lot of flower stuff off of her friend and had to make some shelves for the paint she newly acquired. Well, even though it was just a small little thing, put some screws in the wall for some brackets to put some hangers off of it and put shelving on it, but man.... it was great. The fact that I was working on something, building something and having it be useful felt almost.... empowering. Our friends had come out this morning to take a look at the house to give an honest opinion of what they figured about the house. Things sounded good, had some laughs and some good advice. Sounded good so now our heads are swimming with ideas, what to do, where to do it and what's best to do.
I can't wait.
Friday, March 20, 2009
To all my sheet metal bretheren, I appologize
I want to help my sweetheart with her flowers, I want to feel included, but... me and flowers don't really mix and well... Erin is a one woman show really. So, anytime she asks me to help with something or build something or something to modify for her business, I'm right in there like a dirty shirt.
Well, this evening... not even a wobbly pop in me (well, one with supper but I'm not counting that) I get to business. I go to Canadian Tire and got a hacksaw blade to help cut down these garbage cans so she can create arrangements inside these baskets without seeing the top of the garbage can. Found the right blade, did the typical Canadian Tire look around to see what's there (found the new toolbox of my dreams...lol but at a small $1700, it's going to stay a dream, considering Costco has one for $1000 top and bottom).
So, out I get my drill, the biggest drill bit I could find (found out that 1/4" isn't big enough for a hacksaw blade), measured all around the basket and totally butchered it. I didn't take any pictures because, well, it is quite embarrassing. It was all over the place, up, down, huge cuts down the side, change in directions... UGH!! SO... next one I was able to think through and just started to drill holes all around the garbage pail but what aspect of that did I forget?? The little knobbies that are left after cutting the top off, and my tools are still packed, and tools meaning, files. *sigh*, so anyway... it worked a LOT better than just cutting, but the finish isn't all that great.
I know it was just plastic and no one is going to see it, but I know it's there and looks like crap...lol When she's done that wedding I'll pull out the files and give the pails some fit and finish. And man... just thinking about it... I had a Dremel tool that I could have used to cut that cleanly... man... I'm totally not thinking, maybe I SHOULD have had a few wobbly pops!!
Anyway, that's enough from me for now...
Well, this evening... not even a wobbly pop in me (well, one with supper but I'm not counting that) I get to business. I go to Canadian Tire and got a hacksaw blade to help cut down these garbage cans so she can create arrangements inside these baskets without seeing the top of the garbage can. Found the right blade, did the typical Canadian Tire look around to see what's there (found the new toolbox of my dreams...lol but at a small $1700, it's going to stay a dream, considering Costco has one for $1000 top and bottom).
So, out I get my drill, the biggest drill bit I could find (found out that 1/4" isn't big enough for a hacksaw blade), measured all around the basket and totally butchered it. I didn't take any pictures because, well, it is quite embarrassing. It was all over the place, up, down, huge cuts down the side, change in directions... UGH!! SO... next one I was able to think through and just started to drill holes all around the garbage pail but what aspect of that did I forget?? The little knobbies that are left after cutting the top off, and my tools are still packed, and tools meaning, files. *sigh*, so anyway... it worked a LOT better than just cutting, but the finish isn't all that great.
I know it was just plastic and no one is going to see it, but I know it's there and looks like crap...lol When she's done that wedding I'll pull out the files and give the pails some fit and finish. And man... just thinking about it... I had a Dremel tool that I could have used to cut that cleanly... man... I'm totally not thinking, maybe I SHOULD have had a few wobbly pops!!
Anyway, that's enough from me for now...
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